FRONTIGNANO – Sitting on the stool in the mixed zone with the Eurosport camera pointed at his face, Tom Pidcock looks really dismayedHe thought he was fighting for the victory, but instead the race slipped out of his grasp. As Ayuso accelerated, the British Q36.5 Cycling Team he was unable to answer or, according to him, he was distractedFor a while, he remained within touching distance, then slipped back, but without sinking. The Spaniard's move wasn't irresistible, he didn't create a definitive gap. His legs were weak, perhaps in good condition, but not the best, even if the data intercepted here and there show 6,79 watts/kg for 19 minutes, compared to Ganna's 6,06. We're so used to Pogacar's progressions that a clash between two equally matched high-level athletes makes us turn up our noses. At Frontignano, top-tier athletes competed, struggling even to gain just 10 seconds. Cycling for ordinary people.
«I did quite well – says Pidcock – I think it was my best performance on a climb like thisBut I actually thought I could have done more. It's always difficult to keep up the pace without going into the red, but I thought my red zone was a little higher than what we saw».
A sudden curve
He almost apologizes, we think as we listen to him. Pidcock has left the team Ineos Grenadiers and was reborn with new enthusiasmHe won. It was protagonist of the Strade Bianche He's been teasing Pogačar. And now that his team is poised to secure a wildcard for the Giro, he's become a key figure to watch. This time, he wanted to win, and he makes no secret of it.
"Ayuso put a lot of pressure on me," he says, "with his attacks and acceleration. I responded, but I let up a little in a left-hander because I thought he would let me get close again right away. Instead, he continued to push.He got a little ahead, and I should have closed the gap. I should have closed it. It's not a shame, of course, to lose against AyusoHe's strong, but I would have preferred to lose differently."
The steepest climbs
Bitterness reigns supreme. At Strade Bianche, he saw Pogacar, wearing the same jersey as Ayuso, disappear from the scene. Victim for two consecutive weeks of men from the same team.
«I'm a little frustrated with myself – he admits – and it's the worst feeling you get out of a raceI can't be happy. The climb was long and rideable, but I think I prefer the steeper ones now. If you'd asked me last year, I would have said this one was perfect, but now I like steeper slopes. I'm leaving the Tirreno-Adriatico with two second placesI'm also happy with how I saw the team working. There's still one stage to go, and David (De La Cruz, ed.) and I are in the top 10, where we want to stay. You live and you learn, as they say.
